Elbow-making machine



Au@ sa, 1932. J, G mp 1,875,186

ELBOW MAKING MACHINE myx5@ INVENTOR ATTORNEY Aug. 3Q, w32.

.1. G. TlLP ELBOW MAK I NG MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 30, 1932. 1 G. TH P 1,875,186

ELBOW MAKING MACHINE Filed Deo.. 24, 1929 T Sheets-Sheet 4 M m f@ T121 ATTORNEY ugs 30, 1932. 1. G, TU P LSSS@ ELBOW MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY .Aug 399 1932. J. G. TILP ELBOW MAKING MACHINE Filed Deo. 24. 1929 'l' Smets-Sheet Aug. 30, 1932. J. G. TU P ELBOW MAKING MACHINE Filed Deo. 24. 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 A MNNUM ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 30, i932 isiaiee .earner erica JOSEPH GEORGE'TILP, GF llfAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY,

ASSIGNOR TO DAVID LEVOW,

or NEW Yon-x, N. Y.

ELBOW-MARIN G MACHINE Application filed December 274, 1529. Serial No. 416,243.

This invention aims to provide a novel and improved machine for bending pipe lengths linto elbows of various angularities as desired. p y g p A veritable multitude of machines, more or less automatic, have been proposed for the general purposeA of creasing a straight length of pipe at a point or at a plurality of spaced points along the length thereof in order to give a greater Vradius of curvature to the creased sideof the pipe and a lesser radius of curvature to the opposite side'of the pipe. in otherwords, prior practice in the art, as evidenced by a large number of issued U. S. patents, many important kones of whichr have expired, have made it standard, accepted practice: thus to crease a pipe length to yfabricate a desired elbow, as for a water-pipe coupling and other conduits for divers purposes. F or example, it is standard,

accepted practice to provide a creasing toolY or tools operable in a working zone at a 'fixed location relative to the path of endwise advance of the pipe past such location. Also, it is standard, accepted practice to use a plurality of separate tools all operatedin such manner-as to cor-act to :form a predetermined crease in the pipeltransversely, or more or lesscoinpletely circuinferentially of the pipe.

Further, itis thestandard, accepted practice to support the portion of the pipe at any instant being subjected to a creasing operation,

between innnei and outer guides and/or supports; with the innerV support generally a drum or thickened discl having a recess or pocket therein withinwhich the material of the pipe-crease isl -to'be f forced by the` creasing'tool or tools, and into which pocket or recess said materialis thus forced by said tools as a double wall substructure havin more or less in cross-section the shape of a U, aV, or an I, and having ageneral central line, in the direction-of its height, substantially perpendicular to the axisof the pipe.

gain, it is standard, accepted practicev to shape the crease-receiving recess or pocket (or otherwise to provide a suitable female die means, as an equipment on or'as a coad juvant of said drum), and in connection there- .with to allow. for a movement of said drum axially thereof at a predetermined instant,

-to insure that, at the conclusion of such movethus reachingv a stage in the pipe-bending fopcration whereat, if another crease is to be given to the pipe-length to produce the desired elbow, the pipe-length may be fed forward the predetermined distance to advance the attened crease beyond the zone of operation ofthev creasing tool or tools and to advance a succeeding and as yet uncreased portion of the pipe into said zone. Again, it is standard, accepted practice to provide a reciprocator rodv or the like carrying at its forward end the thickened disc or drum aforesaid, and on a. rearward portion thereof, some distance back from the zone of operation of the creasing tool ortools, a member or structure adapted predeterminedly to move with, :or to move relatively to, the reciprocator; `which member or structure may perhaps most aptly be designated the pipe-advancing abutment or carriage, but is hereinafter for convenience simplycalled the carriage. It is also standard, accepted practice for this carriage (against the forward face ofwliich the inner end ofthe pipe tobe creased is placed, when the carriage is the proper distance towards the rear en d of the reciprocator and away from the Zone of creasing, that is, when the machine is set to start bending a pipe-length)I to be advanced agiven distance along the reciprocator during each stroke of the latter toward the creasing zone, but to halt each time the reciprocator, reaching the end of its forward stroke, commences its rearward stroke, and to rest during the whole of said rearward stroke; thereby insuring that on yeach forward strokeof the reciprocator the pipe will vbe advanced a distance roughly approximating the space between each two creases, and yet insuringthat the following retraction stroke of the reciprocator will not cause the carriage `and the pipe-length to iplose ground, in other words, to prevent' a back stroke of the reciprocator from undoing the beneficial pipe-feeding action of the just against the inside of the pipe wall,

Y associated with or co-a yriag'e moves forwar precedin-gforward stroke of the reciprocator.

Further, it is standard accepted practice to provide, for attaining the purposes just mentioned, rality of parallel guides one of which is the reciprocator 'which co-actswith the carria'geto providea rack-and lpawl means to a carriage movable along a plu-Y toi-maximum predetermined adjacency, -pipeportion being creased will receive ideal insure that each forward stroke ofthe .recip-..

rocator will advance ,the .carriage -forpipeyfeeding asabove, and anotherv `yof v'whi'chl is gripping or clinching means on vorfeonnected tion,-it being understood that an underlying object is to improve generally a machine of improved Working-head characterized by the fact that the same is in a plurality of sections so shaped thatwhen said sections are moved the .support from the .precise concentricity there witliofisaid working-head, and yet so shaped cts with a holding,

to the carriage andso operating that during p `@separatedyduringthetime needed to slip ont a forward stroke of the freciprocator the/,car-

' traction stroke of the reciprocator lthe -carfully illustrated and backward and hence the reciprocator- :moves entire relatively to lthe carriage during 'its retraction stroke; the c p d freely along the lastmentioned" guide *but on vthe succeeding- -re v l and controlled that aftera pipe-lengthis preably automatically, will separate and remain a inished elbow and insert into the machine a: pipeelengthto be-made into a similarelbow;

lthe arrangementbeing such that, preferably,

n before v'the new pipe ombination *just described, which is the Ycombination preferably y:willbenb-viousthat,no time will be-lost in remov-ingan elboW-'pipe-'lengtli andinserting a straight; pipe-length,fa1`id particularly in so" presenti machine,- being described in'U.S. 'Patent to Naylor No. 1,032,152. Agaimit is standard, accepted vpractice to "incorporated inf the -providea trip l or *far-as such insertion is concerne 'the parts will-f provide an;u abnormally `large the' like yfor "renderingthe rack-and pawlfy means'just referred to, inoperative, at the i conclusion of. the final one of the predeterlength, and to'hold such'r Apredetermined` interval a mined plurality ofcrea'singsfor al pipeack vandpawl means l'inoperative for a L thereafter', that is, A until theVV carriageA lhas i been"returnedl to a position-fonthewrecipro-y '*iliary guide g'such instrumentality in the vicinity offsuch-return l position of theioarriagato restore to normal '.operabi'litya thel rack` andpawl-y means, i and f plained.

Inv machines having instrumentalities f of :the kind pointedy out in .the yparagraph's'f'imn l' mediately` preceding,

' customary to provide, as

hereinabove menfcator and towa`rd^the Y' rearr` endf'fof 'the` auX- position beingthat -pre- *determined tfor `-theccarriage before-a 4new iy pipe-length istobe inserte I"for beginning'of-a e: to ,providel an 1 tainsf a much -working space-and. @ne than-would--be'feas1ble-duri-ng a creasing op v1 erat1on.- Y

Ationof-lessercrease the lthussepanatedparts of lthe worlrifnghead are again moved to length is given? its first-*- The attainment of this obj ect i ob* creasing.

4needed result-1n ther art, Vas 1tr d,l since `then fcourse muchlarger vV`-lcnother Eobj ect lof the ypresent invention yis cto Apro-vide`- a new andfimproved-collection of characterized-by ithe' presence creasing'tools, of aradially movable.tool"forattackingl the pipeatr-'the greatest depth vof -cr ease, andthe. j Vcon]hint-presence and operation of a creasing4 tool having-a movement ofl rotation yrather than a movement of translation, '1in other -words,= so that a-selectedpoint on'its 4working throughan arcuatepath dur-5"'v I Lingcreasing, fori-attackingthe'pipelat a-pordepth ;-thereby toiquickly the type above described,-is to providev an rdeterminedly creased said sections, prefer--k maximum adj-acency just i eoy andi-perfectly give rip-considerable.creaseto the I pipe, comp arativlely easilywhereithepipe is f p thick walled-or Vof] tough material, and', with* v`theholding or'c'linchin'g means abovereferred "vte", soxthat during fthe vbending of ithis fnew e uringV the pi-pewhere the materialxthereof -wgiveneis of unusual; depth. Y

it Ahas further fl been I tioned, -1 an outerguide Vor "support'-for "the E `Vjected' to 'a' creasing operation;v andfithas likewise*'beencominon toutilize a suitableY f ing the pipe inazwaytermed theworking-head. y One of the'specific'objectsofthefinven-l-termined aeyclesiofJeperationsfasstolstart Vstructure or framework'y for'V mounting this f to: provide.; aff machine having a :power-input means,-perhaps apulley rotating'with aspun outer guide Yor support. *Gln view? ofthe-*L fact that such guide'or support assistsiin'hold a creasing' voperationl precisely f as previse'd, f such guide, yor A support'J 'lill her-"einafterY-be v "tofprovideaima'chineprequiringifortapredef Y,

` lic;

toassist in orfacilitate f train,

-gear i fixed thereto,

Another .object ofrthe present invention'is'l quickly, --easily and conveniently" modified, preferably fbymeansf simple-'rearrangement of a'gear sol? farffas Jis i concerned'the predetermined number ofcreases'tobe given to apipe to provide -a machine which ymayl abe lengthl subjeetedffto-the .actionfof ythe :m achine. -Anfotherobject ofthel present invention is adapted:to run continufflunusualbrittleness or thefcrease torbe v ous'ly despite '.alternating-periods vofmachine operation fand inactivity.

Y TAnothereobjectof the Apresent,invention Yisy k i L l feo.

navales creasing a pipe and then continue and `coml plete suoli creasing at as many di'erent points as prevised and then cease such creasing, anc finally restore to starting position the wor-lring and connecting and controlling parte which should be restored to such starting position in order to continue and complete vthe bending of another pipe-length, and lrender motionless all the working parts or" the machine for aperiod sufficient to permit Y a inallybent pipe to be removed and a new pipe to be inserted,-a less number of levers, treadles, handles and the like to be manually operated vby the machine attendant, than heretofore. Y

. Another object is to provide in a machine like that last described, a single handle, treadle,k lever or the like which when once depressed or otherwise moved vonce in a single direction may start the machine, sup-ervise the operation of the machine rthroughout its complete cycl-e of initiating, continuing and completing a prevised bending' of a given pipe Y length, and return automatically to normal position, substantially coincidentally with the completion of said cycle.

Another object is to provide an automatic means, preferably -predeterminedly brought into. action as the result of a controlling part manually given' a certain movement to startthe machine, for so supervisingthe operation of the machine that there will occur, after a Y Y pipe has been given a predetermined number 0f creases,-.iirst, a stoppage of all the previ- .ously workingA parts of the machine, and, second, a return of a carriage to starting position, and also, if a working-head including a plurality of separable parts is present, a separation of such parts.

Another object is to provide a single manu- Vally operable lever, treadl'el or .the like, to start the machine, which, where the machine includes. a working-head as last described, will, incidental to its operation in a machinestarting direction, be instrumental in bring- `ing about a closing of such head to the maximum required for a pipe-bending operation, .before pipe-bending actually commences.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter specifically pointed out, orwill become apparent, as the specifica- -tion proceeds. f f lVith the above indicated objects in View, -the invention resides in certain novel construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, clearly described in the followingspecification and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which latter show an :embodiment of the invention as at present preferred.

. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevationfof said embodiment;

I Fig. 2 is a top `plan view thereof;

"f f \Fig.r3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the center of the working-head, showing the latter closed, 'and showing the reciprocator, the drum on the forward end thereof, a creasing tool forcing a pipe-wall portion into the recess or pocket of said drum, and further showing the carriage which has just previously advanced the pipe to move a completed crease beyond the zone of operation of said tool relative to a part of the pipe-wall now being creased, properly into said zone;

Fig. l is a rear elevation of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing details of the rear portion of the reciprocator, of the Cain-groove carrying sleeve, of the continuously rotated driving gear, of the clutch between said gear and sleeve, and of ertain devices, one for predeterminedly operating the clutch, and the other for being predeterminedly operated by the clutch;

Fig. 5a is a horizontal section taken approximately on line 5ft-5A of Fig. 5 showing dog 26 in top plan View.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged view showing certain of the parts in the relation in which they appear in Fig. l, these parts forming the preferred means for controlling relative movements between the carriage and the reciprocator for the purposes aforesaid;

F ig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially on' the lines 8 8 of Figs. 7 and 9;

F ig. 9is also a vertical section but one taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7 and Fig. l0 is a perspective view showing the drum, the recess or pocket therein, and a part of the forward end of the reciprocator.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

lt is believed that a preliminary exposition of the main and the unique features ofthe machine, andy their outstanding operative relationships, will assist materially in appreciating the invention and its novel advantages and at the same time will serve as an advance summary which will simplify the entire disclosure.

rlher-efore, as will now be pointed out:

lin the preferred embodiment of the machine as illu trated in the drawin ust briefly described, the following predetcrminedly co-acting mechanisms are present:

(fr)r A contiruofL iv rotated train of gears between power-input pulley 20 and a sleevestrncture 2l carrying an external cam groove and an internal cam groove;

lll/lith both cam grooves so designed that each has only an activating rise and through half the circumference of the sleevestructiue,one of such cam grooves for pred.4 rminedly operating the pipe creasing tool or tools, and the other for predeterminedly oj erating a reoiprocator 22 for serving the useful purpose, among others, of predeterbe stepped along reciprocator 22 a definite amount at each forward stroke of the latter but preventing said carriage from ever slidingy back along said reciprocat0r,-thereby permitting a suitable instrumentality as a weight 44 to completely retract carriage 43 to a predetermined starting station, suoli station so equipped, as by the means indicated at 45, that the just mentioned locking means is automatically restored;

(la) Thus providing a machine having the outstanding structural and operative advantages, among others, of (1) a power-input means continuously running,-( 2) an arrangement such that at the conclusion of a pipe bending operation the variable working-head preferably incorporated, and carriage 43 are, respectively, opened abnormally, and returned to starting position, only after all-the other parts of the machine are brought to rest,-(3) an arrangement such that by merelychanging the gear ratio of the subsidiary gear train above mentioned under (c), (say as between said gear 33 and a gear 46 which drives the gear carrying the above mentioned cam 32 in the machine illustrated in the drawings as a preferred embodiment of the invention), the said cam or an equivalent will stop the machine as above described when a pipe length in the machine has been given apredetermined number of creases, it becoming clear hereinafter that if said cam Vratio is ten to one, or eight to one, or n' to one, said predetermined number of creases will be ten, eight or n, this arrangement obviously providing an easy, convenient and exceedingly quick means for at will resettingthe machine to automatically stop and consequently cease bending any pipe length vthereafter placed in the machine and subjected to its operation ,-and (3), when desired, a single actuator, as the treadle 31, is so connected that a single depression thereof will (on the down stroke of the pedal), first close the previously separated sections of the working-head and restore the latch 42 or an equivalent to a condition to hold its lockingmeans or equivalent out of the path of forwardtravel of carriage 43, and thereafter,

fsay as the pedal reaches near the limit of its down stroke, start the machine by actuating dog 26 as above described, and thereafter, (on the up stroke 'of the pedal, commencing as soon as foot pressure is removed therefrom) automatically latching the parts 27 and 28, so that the pin 28is caught by and stopped against the flat bottom of blade 27 and remains in that position, the part 42 meanwhile remains latched and the part40,

.by way of a latch bolt at its forward end,

meanwhile holds the working-head from being opened in response to the pull of weight 41,-until cable 36 is pulled to free treadle 31 to rise to the upper limit of its up stroke the riding of cam 32 under roller 34, as

- structure 21, to stop the machine, and that,

incidental to such stoppage, the slide-dog equipment of the clutch has moved the device 38 to unlatch member 44, and to withdraw the latch holding the working-head from being separated by a drop of weight 41.

The foregoing completes the preliminary survey hereinabove introduced.

Referring now in more detail to the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the aforesaid pulley 2O is fixed on a short horizontal shaft 47 eX- tended lengthwise of the machine and journalled in'suitable brackets carried by the rear two of the three cross-frames 48, 49 and 50 which constitute the main vertical supporting elements of the machine. On said shaft 47 is also fixed a spur-gear 51, meshing with a larger gear, the aforesaid gear 25.

For the purposes of this description, gear 25 is assumed to be rotating in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 4, that is, as indicated by the arrowhead A and arrowtail A appearing in Fig. 1.

Said gear 25, as seen best from Fig. 5, is loose on the aforesaid sleeve 21, and hence this gear may continuously rotate relative to the sleeve unless and until the gear 25 is suitably coupled to the latter.

Interposed between said sleeve 21 and the aforesaid reciprocator 22 is a bearing 52. The reciprocator may be actuated within the bearing, at the proper times, and the sleeve may rotate about the bearing, at the proper times. To restrain the reciprocator against any rotation whatever, the same is feathered inside bearing 52 as indicated at 53.

Still referring to Fig. 5, sleeve 21 has an internal cam-groovel 24a adapted to co-act with the aforesaid follower 24 secured to the reciprocator, thereby to move the reciprocator back and forth once during each half revolution of the sleeve. Also the sleeve 21 has an external cam-groove 23EL for co-act-ing with the aforesaid follower 23; this follower being on the lower end of a rock-lever 54 pivoted on a bracket 55 on frame 49, and actuating, through parts to be described in the next paragraph, the creasing tools. Said cam-groove 23aM is likewise designed to give rock-lever 54 a complete back and forth movement once every half revolution of sleeve 21. It will be observed from a comparison of the broken line, and a dot-anddash line, showings, of these cam-grooves in Fig. 5, that while rec-iprocator 22 is making a back such carriages will rock as though about fulcrums and against the pull of springs 77, immediately tofclinch-lock the auxiliary carriages to the fixed guide rods 69, and hence permit the retraction stroke of reciprocator 22 to occur throughout its length while carriage 43 is hold motionless. The theory and mode of operation of the parts just described is also very clearly described in the U. S. patent to Naylor No. 1,032,152, hereinabove referred to.

Adverting for a moment to Fig. 1, a control bar 78, partially shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 9, is illustrated vas being, during forward travel of carriage 43 along its guide bars 69, held by the aforesaid latch 42 in an Velevated position out of all possible contact with a release device for the pawl 70.

' This device comprises a rounded stem 79 offset from the upper rear end of a lever 80 pivotedat 81 and having a variously roundedv toe 82 riding under an anti-friction roller 83 set vin a slot 84 in a portion of t-he pawl above carriage 43; from which it will be clearly seen that upon dropping control bar 78 to the dot and dash indicated position shown in Fig. 1,-which will predeterminedly occur when the prevised number ofcreases have been imparted to the pipe- `Alength then in the machine, the pawl will be lifted to clear the crests of the rack-teeth cut along the top portion of reciprocator 22. The only thing now needed to be done (to free carriage 43 for a` full-sweep, in-

fstantaneous return to the position it should occupy for the initiation for the next pipe creasing cycle, which position is that predetermined by the setting of the aforesaid adjustable stop 46) is to positively adjust fthe auxiliar carriages 71 on carriage 43 as shown in Fig. 7. To this end, lever 80 has a pair of oppositely offset extensions 85 carryingpendent terminal blades'86; the parts being so arranged that when lever 80 is irocked by control. bar 78 to elevate pawl 70 as just described, plates 86, beveled at their bottoms as shown in Fig. 9, will be easily forced down between the facing Walls of extensions 43 on carriage 43 and the iniwardly directed extensions on auxiliary carriages 71 which carry set-screws 76, thus to lock carriage 43 and the auxiliary carriages 71 together as shown in Fig. 7. In order that this simultaneously accomplished releasing of pawl 70 from rack 22, and of auxiliary carriages 71 relative to fixed Guide rods 69, shall persist until carriage 43 is snapped back to its initial position as determined byy stop 45, control bar 78 is sufciently long, and heavily weighted as at 78. Thus, due to the fact that control bar 78 is of the proper length, immediately after latch 42 is swung on its pivot 87 to release the control bar 78, the carriage 43 is returned to its aforesaid initial position,-in

the present case by the aforesaid weight 44, which is shown as being suspended at one end of a cable 88 passing over a sheave 89 and connected at its other end, as at 90, to carriage 43.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 6, the working-head here employed includes a fixed upper half 91, and a movable lower half 92, the latter having the range of movement indicated in broken lines in Fig. 6 and being guided for such mov-ement in suitable ways in wall structure 50. Said lower half 92 is permitted to drop to a ledge 93, or is elevated to cause its upper end portions 92 to bear against the lower end portions 91 of half 91, by the aforesaid cam 30; which cam, with a grooved disk 94, is fixed on a stub-shaft 95. The rear face of the disk is notched as indicated at 96, and in the groove of the disk is laid a cable 97 secured at a point intermediate its length to the disk as indicated at 98, such cable at one end suspending the aforesaid weight 41 and at its'other end being secured to a slide-rod 99 guided in a bracket 100 and pivoted at its lower end to the aforesaid treadle 31.

Treadle 31 is itself fulcrumed at 101; and beyond such fulcrum is connected to one end of a cable 102 passing over a sheave 103; the other end of this cable being connected to the lower end of the aforesaid dog 26, which dog is normally urged toward entering a peripheral groove 104 around sleeve 21, by an expansible coii spring 105 in a bracket 106 on frame 48, which bracket also provides a guide for said dog 26.

Dog 26, all the while it is projected by said spring into said groove, is in position to engage (as shown clearly in Fig. slots 107 in the aforesaid slide-dogs 37 and thus maintains these slide-dogs removed from their receiving recesses 108 in gear 25, and so breaks, by overcoming the urge of the coil springs 109 within the slide dogs 37, the driving connection between gear and sleeve 21.

The endwise movements of slide-dogs 37 incidental to this unclutching operation, project the tail-portions 37" into the space between the aforesaid gear 33 and frame 48; these portions 37 being beveled as shown most clearly in Fig. 5; and, therefore, the next thing that happens, instantly, is the engagement of one of said tail-portions with the illustrated beveled end of the aforesaid slide device 33.

Said slide device, disposed in a suitable guideway formed in frame 48, has a flanged rear-head 38 contacting a lever 110 pivoted at 111 o-n a bracket 112 on frame 48. At a point intermediate its ends, this lever 110 is connected to one end of the aforesaid cable 39, which cable, passing over sheaves of the dogs otherend connected to the aforesaid slide-v rod 40,'guided in suitable'bearings 115 and 116, and carrying at its forward end a. pivotedly connected spring latch 117, having an "lend, bevelled as shown, seated in notch 96,

of disc 94 to hold cam 30v as shown in Fig. 6, and thus to close the working-head 91-92 all the time a'pipe length in the machine is being. creased.. f

Pivoted at an intermediate point'118 to a bracket 119 on frame 49, is a lever 120 connected at its upper end to latch 42 bya! link 121, and pivoted at its lo-wer end to the aforesaid slide-rod 40. Such latch 42 terminates at its lower en in a hook for holding a pin on the aforesaid control-bar'78; the parts being so designed that `when arranged as shown in Fig. 1, the control-bar cannot drop free, except by a 20? -rocking of lever 120, and cannot be thereafter elevated to be latch-locked as shown except by a depressionoftreadle 31 Vand a consequent descent of slide 99, this slide being connected'as shown to said control-bar by a cable 123 passing over a sheave 124 pivoted on a bracket 125 on front frame 50.

The aforesaid gear 33 meshes with a gear 126 rotated with al pinion 127; this pinionv meshing withr a gear 128 fixed on the same stub-shaft 129, passing through frame 48,'

on which is lixed the aforesaid gear or pinion 46.` This gear 46 is a member of a train of gears on the rear 'side' of frame V48, for

driving at a predetermined speed ratio rela# Vtive to gear 33, a disc'130 on a shaft 131 carrying the aforesaid cam 32 as a cam-'nose on the cam really constituted by the disc 130. It shouldbe clear,or' it will become clear hereinafter, that if thev speed ratio as vbetween gears 46 and 33 isf10 to 1, or 8 to 1, or n to 1, the machine once started, will rotate the sleeve 10 times, or 8 times,or n times, and hence will impart to the pipe in the machine ten,z or eight, or n, creases, for each complete revolution of cam 13G-32.

Now, each time disc 130 completes one revolution, each such revolution beingstarted when a new pipe length is inserted into the machine and the machine is started to-crease thepipe, the cam-nose 32 will ride under and lift thefa-foresaid roller 34, which, as aforesaid, is journalled on an arm 35. This arm is pivoted at 133 on frame 48 and is connected at its free end to onev end of the aforesaid cable 36 which passing over a sheave 134 journalled as indicated at 135, has its other end connected as'aforesalid to the afore` said pivotally pendent'latch-b'lade 27, pivoted at 135 to bracket 1,00 on frame 50. v As already brought out, a pull on cable 36" swings blade 27/to the right inFig. 1, to clear its flat bot-tom froma top pin k28 on treadle 31 (which is the latched relation of these parts, as already explained, While the ma-' chine-'is operating to impart kcreasesfto a pipe length) ,-v-thus releasinga Vreturn spring g 136 for treadle 31, to kmove the treadleup i V'toextreme elevated position, and thereby in` turn to give slack to cable 102, to permit dog 26 to reenter groove 104'on-sleeve 21gand thus act on slide-dogs 37 to-l unclutchthe cease pipe creasing.

IOf course, any conv-ement number of slide.

sleeve fromr the Vcontinuously rotating gear 25,-as above described, and consequently yto' dogs 37 may be employed, but preferably, as. f is familiar in various l'machine arts, three such dogs are kpresent,spaced 120 degrees apart around sleeve 21, and' consequently there are three notches 108 on the sleeve similarly spaced therearound..`

The drive from gear is by way of any idlerfgear 137 to a gear 138 fixed on the same stub-shaft 131 on which is lixed the cam-disc130. It'willvthereforer be clearv that tol set the machine` for; giving" any desired number ofcreases itis' onlyfnecl essaryto replace the gear 46 onpivotedV arm 35 by a substitute gear having a different f number of teeth; the yidler-gear 137- being adjusta'bly journalled on an arm 139 pivoted at 140 on the rear face of frame 48; thisy adjustable journallingbeing indicated at'141. Consequently., a gear of 'any selectedl pitch may be substituted for gear 46, without ref placing gear 137; but merely as .the result of adjusting the j ournalling of gear 137 suitably along'slot 141 and by Votherwise adjust-1 machine illustrated, such, for instance, as the tie-rods 142, areirelativelyunimportant. f

Therefore, this specification may now be concluded with a briefsummary -ofoperai tion, viz:y

Referring to Fig. 1, it willf'be understood that stop 45 is Aadjustedand setv on its brack= et 119 so that when'automatic'allyat the condifferent number of teeth disposedl clusion of a predetermined pipe-bendingV operation explained', the carriage 43 is backed up against such stop, the vnext manual' in-V sertion of a new pipe-length to mount itsinner end on the reduced portion 143 (Fig 9)V of the carriage, will set the v'new pipe-length in the machine so that the creasing shall begin as prevised a certain distance from the inner end of the pipe.

Assume now thatthe carriage 43 is, as-

aforesaid, allthe way back against the stop 45, and assume that the treadle is all the way up, as shown in full lines in Figfl.

At this time, therefore, controlebar 7 8 willi i groove 104 on sleeve A21, and said sleeve starts be elevated'as shown, 'andxweight 44 will be holding working-head 91-92 open, (Figs. f 3 and .6), the latch 117 being thrust to the right in Fig. 1 because out of notch 96 in 5 disc 94. The creasing tools will bein retracted position (Fig. 6) and cam-nose 32 (Fig. 4) will be just beyond roller 34.

Y Therefore,as a very easy and quick operation, a pipe length mayfbe inserted past the creasing'tools, through the expanded'working-head, over the drum 48, and along reciprocator `22 to seat the rear end of the pipe properly around support 143 (Fig. 9) against carriage 43.

Now, if a single treadle depression be performed, the following things occur in the following order:

As the treadlemoves from its uppermost vfull-line position toward and into an intermediate broken line position, slide 99 is drawn down, and disc 94 is rotated against weight 41 until latchy 117 snaps into notch .96 (Fig. 3), and the working-head is closed and lock closed. While this is being-done, the accompanying pull on cable 123 is lifting -control-bar 78 to latch the parts as shown in Fig. 1, and consequently to release the parts ofVFigS. 7, v8 and 9 for the already fully and clearly explained step-by-step forward feed of the carriage and pipe length toward the creasing tools, on each back vand forth movement of reciproca'tor22.

Before the treadle reaches its lowermost point, the dot-and-dash position of Fig.y 1, dog 26 is withdrawn from the peripheral to rotate with the continuously rotating gear 25,-the machine thereupon commencing its alternate pipe feeding and-pipe creasing operations as already described indetail, until Athe predetermined number of creases are given to the pipe. y

Following the releasing of foot-pressure .on treadle 31, the treadle moves upwardly under its spring 136, but not all theway, being caught in the aforesaid (broken-line, Fig. ,1) intermediate position, by blade'27l coming into the upward path of pin 28, due tothe presence of retractile spring 28. The result is that forrthe time being dog 26 .isnot permitted to re-enterv groove 104 on sleeve 21 sufficiently to unclutch the sleeve fromA gear kAs soon, however, as there is completed on ber of creases, cam 3,2 comes again under roller 34, and by way of cable36 bla-de 27 is cleared away and the treadle'pis permitted toreturn to normal or elevated position.

Thereupon, several things occur, and in an ideal order. rlhe dog 26 re-enters groove 104 Vand actson slide-dogs 37 j to unclutch 'sleeve 2,1 from gear 25, thus insuring that practically immediately thereafter the machine will stop. AAt the same time, cable 97 is the pipe thelast-of the predeterminednumgiven slack to prepare for an expansion of the working-head, and cable 123 is given slack for to prepare a dropping of controlbar 78. Finally, the projection 37" on a slide-dog 37 (sleeve 21 still rotating, but under momentum, purely) will engage device 38, and thereupon rock lever 110 to simultaneously accomplish two other purposes, both needed to reset the machine for another pipe creasing operation, and both ideally occurring vafter stoppage of operations of the creasing tools and the reciprocator. That is to say, now, due to the outswinging of lever 110, latch 117 is withdrawn from disc 94, andthe working-head opens under pull of weight 41 and latch 42 is swung to the left in Fig. 1, permitting the weighted controlbar 78 to drop to the broken line position shown in Fig. 1 thereby to actua-te the lever 8O of Figs. 7, 8 and 9 to set the pawl 70 and the auxiliary carriages 7'1 as above described to a condition resulting in the immediate slam-back return, by weight 44, of carriage 43 to its initial position against stop 45.y

It will thus be seen that there has been provided a machine having all the unique features hereinabove first `mentioned, and capable of satisfying all the objects and incorporating all the advantages hereinabove discussed; and a machine, moreover, exceedingly simple, rugged, and dependable, yet quicklyand easily variable as to any one of a wide variety of possible uses contemplated. What I claim as new, is:

1. In a-machine of the kind described, the combination with pipe advancing means, pipe creasing means, and operative connections between theftwo means just mentioned for permitting their operation in a predetermined time relation, of pipe supporting means in the vicinity of the zone of operation of said creasing means, said pipe supporting means incorporating a working-head including a plurality of relatively movable sections, and there being means for predeterminedly adjusting said sections sopas to support the pipe during a creasing operation by lying in a predeterminedv adjacency to the exterior of the pipe substantially all around the same, and means for predeterminedly giving movement to said sections to space them abnormally to facilitate the insertion of a new pipe in the machine for bending. i 2. Inga machine of the kind described, the combination with pipe advancing means, pipe creasingV means, and operative connections between the two means just mentioned for permitting their operation in a. predetermined timel relation, of pipe supporting means in the vicinity of the Zone of operation of said creasing means, saidpipe supporting means incorporating a working-head including a plurality of relatively movable sections, and there being means for predeterminedly giving relativ-e movement to said sections to space them abnormally to facilitate'the inser-Vr tion cfa new pipe in the machinefor. bend- IDU the predetermination last mentioned is consummated byl another working part ot the -machine attaining a certain condition rela-fy `tive to a prevised operation thereof.

i l 4. In a machine of the kind described,'the

` `tween the two means justV mentioned-for per-Y combination with pipe advancing means, pipe creasing means, and operative connections bemitting theiroperation in a predetermined timerelation, of pipe supporting means in the V*vicinity of thev Zone of operation of said creasing means, said pipe supporting means incorporating a vwerking-head Vincluding r a plurality of relatively movablesections., and

therebeingmeans forpredeterminedly moving said sections intov a closer adjacency to improve the support of the pipe duringa creasingopcration, the predetermination last mentioned lbeing effected by anotherworking part Y of the machine attaininga certain condition relative to a prevised operation thereof; f

'5, vThe'inachine defined in claim 2, wherein I means are provided vfor automatically thus l f spacing said sections when a pipefhas been bent to the'extent to make the pipe ready for extraction from the machine. l I

6. Ina machine ofthe kind described, the combination with pipe vadvancing means, pipe creasingmeans,and operative connectionsbea predetermined adj ace'ncy to the exterior of tween the two means just mentioned fori permitting their operation in ipredeterminedly timed relation, opipe` supporting meansinthe'vicinity vof* the zone of operationof said j creasinglnieans, said pipe supporting means incorporating a .working-head including a pluralityv of relatively movable sections; said sections beingk adjustable so as totsupport the pipe during a creasing operation by lying in the Vpipesubstantially all around. the same,

andto become spaced from each other'between f the bending of different pipes.; Van actuator Yunctionable at will for. initiatinga, pipe creasing operation relative to a pipe previously inserted inv the machine; and means. predeterminedly operated'a'nd automatically controlled by said actuator, in predetermined' time'relation tothe initiationof the creasing of a certain pipe, to restore to the ycondition first mentioned, the sections offsaid workinghead spaced from each otheron completion ci f' The machine detinedinclaimv y2, wherein p.

`ture foradvancingthepipe toward al creasing fz'oneya creasingmechanism having'an operainga pluralityof. relatively movable sections said-sections beinglj' adjustable solas to support the pipe during a creasing operation by lying in a predetermined'adjacency*to the exteriorof the pipe substantially all around "im Y the same, to becomev spaced fromA eachother between-,the bending of dilierent pipes; `an

yactuator :':functi'onableat will for initiating a pipev creasing opera-tion relative to a pipe previously inserted lin the machine; and means predeterminedly oper-ated andfautomatically controlled by vsaid'actuat'oig-in prev determined.- xtime relation to the v completion of the creasing of a pipe beingbent, tosp'ace the sections of the working-head to prepare the machine lfor theA easy andf. quick` insertion Y of a subsequent pipe. 1 A .8..In afm'achine ofthe kind described, a

sleeve-structure, a sleeve-driven'means for continuously driving said. driver, means for sleeve-structure for rotationtherewith and for rotation relative thereto, ac'arriage struczone, a creasingl mechanism havingl an operative'connection'to said sleeve, a-reci-procator y for operating the carriageyalso having an operative' connection to said'sleeve, one of 'said instrumentalitiesbeing a camgroove on theeexfterior of the sleeve-structure kand the other of said nstrumentalties :being'ja cam groove on theiinte'rior 'of the sleevestructure.v j. i' 1 j 9. In a machine; of the kind described, a sleeve-structure, a sleeve-driver, inea-ns vfor continuously Vdriving said driver, means 'forv4 coupling Yand uncoupling 'said driverto said sleeve-structure for rotation therewithy and coupling and'uncouplmg saldi driver to 'said y for 'rotation relative thereto, a carriage structure-for advancingthel pipe toward a creasing tive connection to said sleeve, and a reciprocatorffor operating the i carriage also vhaving an operative'connection to said sleeve, wherein saidoperative connections include instru-k mentalities controlledl by saidisleeve-structure' during operation of thelatter to vprede'jtermine n `that,- inw-alteration, H'the creasing y mechanism is advanced to thework and With-v drawn therefrom', while thecarriage mof tionless and thecarriageis advanced toward the zone of operation of the creasing mechalli) nism while thelatter is withdi-Wnrfrgmth work: Y

, 10,y In a machine of' thekind described, l. combinationof means for performingy ajpluj rality. Ocreasing operationsv on a pipe and Y spaced. longitudinally thereof thereby to 4give the ksame av desired bend,.meansfor advanc- .'-K ring the pipe-lengthwise alternately with said creasingA operations, and means for signaling the completion of a predeterminednumber of creasing operations on" aparticular pipe length' thenin the machine. y, e

gra

11. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of means for performing a plurality of creasing operations on a pipe and spaced longitudinally thereof thereby to .gygive the same a desired bend, means for advancing the pipe lengthwise alternately with said creasing operations, means for signaling the completion of apredetermined number of creasing operations on a particular pipe length then in the machine, and means for adjusting said signal to operate relative to a predetermined total of creasing operations on said pipe and including a plurality of co-acting parts only one of which parts is required to be replaced to set the signal to operate on completing a different predetermined total of creasing operations relative to a pipe thereafter subjected to the machine for a bending operation.l

l2. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of means for performing a plurality of creasing operations spaced longitudinally of a pipe thereby to give said pipe a desired bend, means for advancing the pipe lengthwise alternately with said creasing 0perations, means for signalling the completion of a predetermined number of creasing operations on said pipe in the machine, and means for readjusting said signal to operate relative to another predetermined total of creasing operations and including a gear train variable for the purpose intended on removing and replacing one gear therein.

1.3. In a machine of the kind described, the

Vcombination of means for performing a plurality of creas-ing operations spaced longitudinally of a pipe, thereby to give said pipe a desired bend, means for advancing the pipe lengthwise alternately with said creasing operations, and means for automatically stopping operation of the two means first mentioned on the completion of a predetermined number of creasing operations on said pipe, said last-named means including a manipulator for starting the machine, said manipulator being movable in a single direction, thereby automatically to cause the commencement of creasing operations relative to a pipe in the machine to supervise the giving of a predetermined number of creases to said pipe and thereafter to cease such creasing operations and dispose and maintain motionless all the normally moving parts of the machine, as so disposed and maintained, said parts being in locations giving maximum facility for the withdrawal of a bent pipe and the insertion of a new pipe.

14. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of means for performing a plurality of creasing operations spaced longitudinally of a pipe, thereby to give said pipe a desired bend, means for advancing the pipe lengthwise alternately with said creasing operations, and means for automatically stopping operation of the first two means first mentioned on the completion of a predetermined number of creasing operations on said pipe, the said last-named means, including a manipulator for starting the machine, said manipulator being movable in a single direction, thereby automatically to cause the commencement of creasing operations relative to a pipe in the machine, to supervise the giving of a predetermined number of creases to said pipe, and thereafter to cease such creasing operations and dispose and maintain motionless all the normally moving parts of the machine, as so disposed and maintained, said parts being in locations giving maximum facility for the Withdrawal of a bent pipe and the insertion of a new pipe, the parts last mentioned including a working-head having separable sections and said manipulator being so operatively connected with one of said sections that with said sections disposed in a maximum predetermined adj acency for facilitating pipe bending, said sections are automatically abnormally separated on the completion of the predetermined bending of a pipe and said sections are automatically restored to said adj acency relative to another pipe inserted for bending in time to facilitate the iirst creasing operation performed on the latter.

In testimony whereof I hereby afliX my signature.

JOSEPH GEORGE TILP. 

